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Match Report

Report: Bolton 1 Tottenham 1

Bolton and Tottenham will lock horns again in a replay at White Hart Lane following a pulsating 1-1 draw.

The draw was probably a fair result as Spurs responded to Bolton's dominance in the first 45 minutes with an improved showing after half-time

Wanderers took a deserved lead into the break through a well-worked Kevin Davies goal on 35 minutes.

But Owen Coyle's side were pegged back when Jermain Defoe fired in off the underside of the bar on the hour mark as Spurs rallied.

Jaaskelainen denied Tom Huddlestone from the penalty spot late on as despite the glut of chances created by both sides, the ball only found the back of the net on two occasions.

Both Jack Wilshere and Vladimir Weiss were cup-tied so Manger Owen Coyle restored Matt Taylor and Ricardo Gardner to Wanderers midfield, with Tamir Cohen dropping down to the bench.

Johan Elmander was given his second successive start up front, and it was hard work that caught the eye in the opening exchanges. Indeed, it was the Sweden international who had the first real opportunity to break the deadlock when a low cross from Chung-Yong flicked up off Taylor and landed at his feet just six yards. Elmander did all that he could before his snap shot struck Vedran Corluka and deflected just over the bar.

The number nine also saw a intricate through ball cut out by Michael Dawson and a rash left-footed shot skewed wide. Gareth Bale cut in off the left touchline and fired over, as did Matt Taylor as the game started to gather pace following a disjointed first ten minutes.

Spurs were struggling to cope with Bolton's silky passing game, especially Chung-Yong Lee who started to play himself into the game more and more as the half progressed.

The South Korean was upended on several occasions with one particular foul by Tom Huddlestone earning the central midfielder a booking. Wilson Palacios also had his name taken when he floored Fabrice Muamba with a late challenge just outside the Spurs penalty area.

Taylor stepped up to bend the set-piece around the wall, but just as Wanderers finally managed to test Gomes, the Brazilian stopper produced a world class save to keep the score at nil-nil on 25 minutes.

The breakthrough that Bolton had undoubtedly deserved arrived ten minutes before half-time and there could only have been one scorer - Kevin Davies, who netted his fourth goal in his last three matches against the North Londoners.

It stemmed from another free flowing move as Elmander played a sublime one-two with Chung Yong before cutting the ball back into the path of Davies eight yards from goal. The skipper confidently took a touch before elegantly passing the ball into the corner of the net with Gomes stranded out of position.

Spurs response to going behind was a swift counter attack down the left and Sam Ricketts - playing a centre-half - showed excellent anticipation to get in front of the predatory Defoe to make a vital interception and put the ball behind for a corner.

Indeed, Wanderers defence looked rather comfortable with everything that Harry Redknapp's side threw at them in the first half. They restricted their opponents to long-range efforts, most notably when Huddlestone ambitiously volleyed over when a corner was half-cleared.

Bolton came out after the break and once again started with a flourish.

Kevin Davies was only a few feet wide of registering his second of the afternoon with a deflected drive and Elmander fired into the side-netting having latched onto a Davies knock-down.

Spurs hit the bar twice within the space of a minute as firstly Crouch beat Jaaskelainen to the ball to nod against the bar before Paul Robinson was a lick of paint away from converting into his own net when attempting to thwart a brisk Spurs attack.

But the visitors were to have more luck when the ball struck the crossbar for the third time on the hour mark.

Jermain Defoe's left-footed effort inside the area evaded Ricketts' attempted block, and found the back of net after skimming the underside of the bar, bringing the England international his 24th goal of the season.

Owen Coyle was forced to shuffle Bolton's defence when Knight limped off injured as Spurs gained the momentum following the equaliser.

Firstly Palacios fired in a 30 yard thunderbolt that was fractionally off target before Jaaskelainen was called into action to palm substitute Kranjcar's sizzling shot around his left-hand post.

Spurs wasted a superb chance to gain the initiative when Sam Ricketts was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the area.

Jaaskelainen had come within a whisker of saving Carlos Tevez's spot-kick against Manchester City five days earlier, and he wasn't going to be denied again. The Finland stopper dived to his right, palming Huddlestone's effort to safety with a full length dive.

And just minutes after his penalty save, Jaaskelainen had to make another vital stop, pushing Defoe's snap shot around the post - his third vital contribution in quick succession.

To stem the flow of pressure, Chung-Yong was replaced with 15 minutes remaining as Owen Coyle looked to bolster his midfield with the introduction of Mark Davies.

And it seemed to work as after a rocky 20 minute spell, Wanderers began to once again get a firm foot on the ball.

But Spurs finished the game the stronger with Mark Davies making an important challenge on Kranjcar deep inside his own box and Defoe prodding a volley wide.